â€œTheyâ€™ve got to play smarter and harder. The injuries – when youâ€™re missing Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, that makes it tough. The injuries make a huge difference. At the same time, youâ€™ve got to get it done. We still have plenty of good hitters. We need to get the job done.

“No question, the Rays are a hungry team. Thatâ€™s what our team has to get back.â€

Hank is considering coming to New York for the Subway Series. The object of his desire, Johan Santana, is pitching for ther Mets on Friday.

â€œTo me, itâ€™s not any added significance because Santana is pitching. We want to win, itâ€™s that simple,â€ Steinbrenner said. â€œWeâ€™re both kind of struggling. We just need to win. They just need to win. We just need to keep putting wins in the win column. Weâ€™ve got to start racking up some runs.â€

â€œWeâ€™re going to do everything we can turn to it around this year. I guarantee weâ€™ll get this thing straight next year.”

Next year? The co-chairperson of the Yankees is talking about next year when they’re 4.5 games out on May 14? That’s stunning.